Loose-leaf book.



v R. G..WHITLO CK.

LOOSE LEAF BOOK, APPLICATION FILED 0c.4, m1.

Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

UNITED STATES PATENT onnron.

RALPH G. WHITLOCK, OF LOS ANGELES; CALIFORNIA.

LOOSE-LEAF IBOOK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 6, 1918'.

Application filed December 4, 1917. Serial No. 205,465.

I simple means for opening and closing the ring members which, at the same time, locks them in their closed or open positions.

In the drawings forming a part of this application I have shown the metal portions of the cover designed for what is termed a two ring book, and detached.

Figure l is a front plan with the rings in their closed position.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line XX of Fig. 1 showing the rings closed.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line XX of Fig. 1 showing the rings in position for inserting or taking out a sheet.

Referring to the drawings, 5 is the back member which is formed of a piece of sheet metal, preferably mild steel, of suitable thickness. At the edges and near the end portions of the back member are curved upwardly and inwardly and downwandly and form bearings 6 in which the side members 7 and 8 are mounted. These side members are preferably formed from heavy wire and the ends thereof are bent at right angles to the intermediate portions. These bent ends are curved into half ring members 9 and 10. Intermediate the rings the side members are bent to form cranks 11 and 12, which cranks are preferably near the center, are staggered in relation to each other, and lie in a plane parallel with the back member when the ring members are closed. A holding lug 13 is struck up out of the back member and passes up and on top of crank 11 and holds member 7 from turning. A locking lug 14 is struck up out of the back and bears against the outer end of crank 12 with its point above the center thereby looking it against accidental movement when the rings are closed. When it is desired to insert a leaf or to remove one the operator grasps a ring 9 with one hand and a ring 10" with the other hand and pulls the free ends of the ring members 10 away from the other ends of ring members 9 which causes side member 8 to turn in its bearings, thereby bringing the end of crank 12 upwardly so that the point of lug l4: bears against the crank below its center and thereby locks ring members 10 in their open position as shown in Fig. 3.

It will be observed that lug 14 looks ring members 10 against accidental turning both 111 their closed and open positions. While I have shown both side members of the same form and secured to the back member in the same way it is obvious that in one of the side members the crank could be dispensed with and bearings need not be formed from the back member as such side member could be soldered to the back member.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a loose leaf book a back frame comprising a strip of sheet metal whose longitudinal central line lies in the same plane 'having portions thereof near the ends tudinal central line lies in the same planehaving portions thereof near the ends formed into bearings, and other portions into lugs; and side members terminating in ring members and having cranks intermediate their ends mounted in the bearings on the back member with their cranks engaged by said lugs, said cranks being staggered, one of said members being rockable in its bearings and the other stationary.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 28th day of Nov., 1917.

RALPH G. WHITLOCK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for iive cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

